This site is a sort of museum in cyberspace full of odds and ends about life in Budleigh Salterton.
It celebrates among other things the connection between our corner of East Devon - birthplace of both Sir Walter Raleigh and Roger Conant, founder of Salem, Massachusetts - and the United States of America.
The site was inspired by the friendship link established in 2001 with the Cape Cod community of Brewster.

Monday, 14 May 2012

Deputy Head Teacher and Music Co-ordinator David Perkins conducts Budleigh's young musicians

They could see clearly now the rain had gone, sang the
children from St Peter's School Choir at Fairlynch's Family Fair last Saturday.
And indeed it was the brilliant sunshiny day that everyone had been praying
for.

This splendid 1890s dress cost five shillings or 35p when it
was bought for the Museum at a jumble sale. It was on display at the entrance
to remind visitors about Fairlynch's amazing costume collection.

Nine-year-old
Sarah from Budleigh Salterton pointed out that wearing the dress would have
made it difficult for her to do cartwheels.

People started arriving early and by mid-afternoon when St
Peter's young musicians were ready to perform there was quite a crowd on the
Fairlynch lawn.

"It was a pleasure to see so many children and parents,
who all seemed to enjoy running in and out of the museum, commented Museum
Chairman Roger Sherriff.

The musical entertainment by St Peter's School included
ukulele players and drummers.

The Fairlynch bear's real name turned out to be Growly.
Five-year-old Seren, great-grand-daughter of the Museum's President Priscilla Hull, thought
that Lily was a nicer name.

FairlynchMuseum would like to
thank St Peter's School for its help in making the Family Fair such a great event.
In addition we are most grateful to the following local businesses for donating
some excellent prizes to our raffle:

In Canada he's a
truly celebrated figure in the nation's history says a correspondent from
across the Atlantic. So celebrated that David
Loaring, from Burlington, Ontario, told us a story that he wrote a
couple of years ago for his grand-children. David got in touch partly because
he has a keen interest in family history."In 1600 or so our family of Loarings lived in Awliscombe and
Honiton," he explained. And of course, as Wikipedia will tell you, Wolford
Chapel just a few miles from Honiton is the burial place of Simcoe, the first
lieutenant governor of Upper Canada.
It's the property of the Canadian province
of Ontario, and flies the Flag of Canada despite
being in the English countryside. But on with David's charming little story, which he tells us is
"just a bit of fun."It's a tale even less likely than the one recorded in Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Graves_Simcoe
about how Simcoe saved the life of future US President George Washington. But
it seems to match so well the impression gained from historical accounts of
Simcoe as a humane, progessive and cultivated man. The story's called 'How Strathroy Got its Name' - Strathoy being a
little town where some of David's grandchildren live."I'm pretty sure Strathroy is Scots Gaelic for River of the
King," he begins. "It's the SydenhamRiver.
We know the river, a little muddy, rather energetic in Spring. Puzzle: what
about the King?Well, let me tell you. Let me tell you about the King of the River.Not surprising, it was a very long time ago. The river was young. It
was before Europeans had come to North America.
This was Huron land: rather no one owned the land, but the great and peaceful
Huron Nation camped throughout the area. They washed in the river. Their
children and their dogs played along its shores and on hot summer days spent
more time in the water than out. You could float with the current right through
the village. The mothers would smile and shake their heads. They could with
fondness remember when they had done the same thing.'Little Turtle, who told you it was all right to float down the
river?''The Great Chief, my Mother, it was he that told me these things:
you may play all day in the sun, you may eat apples from the trees, you may
float down my river.'And so in this way the children spent their summers, year after
year, generation after generation. On just a day such as these one year the Europeans
did come to the area. Their leader was Governor General Simcoe and he went
around making maps and naming parts of the country. He happened upon the river
just as one of these young Huron children was floating by. He addressed the
young one through an interpreter:'Little one, are you allowed to float down the river just as you
please?''Kind sir, for years we have had these rights: to play all day long
in the sun, to eat all the wonderful food the forest provides, and to float
like an otter down the river. The Great Chief told us these things.'The Governor smiled. 'Then I will name this river after the Great
Chief: in the language of my fathers it is Strath Roy, river of the King.' He
would have gone floating done the river with the Huron children, but Mrs Simcoe
was expecting him home for dinner."

A Concert by pupils of St Peter's School, Budleigh
Salterton, will be one of the highlights of FairlynchMuseum's
Family Fair on Saturday 12 May 2012.

A Tea Party will be held on the lawn together with stalls,
plant sales, games, and much more.

Another major attraction at the event will be a raffle
offering a variety of fantastic prizes. They include a Downton Abbey Jigsaw
signed by a celebrity and a free haircut at Budleigh Barbers along with gifts
kindly supplied by A Slice of Lyme, Budleigh Wines, The Garden Shop and Otter
Brewery. One of the prizes offers the chance of an adrenalin-charged session at
a local raceway, described as the ultimate outdoor karting experience.

The Fair will take place from 2.00 - 4.30 pm. Admission is
free, including entry to the Museum.

About Me

Born in 1946, in Birmingham UK, of Scottish-Irish parentage, and brought up as a Roman Catholic. Early education may have driven me into teaching, in the belief that schools should offer a more enjoyable experience for children. Studied French at London University, specialising in 16th century literature. Then came 34 years of teaching French, along with red herrings and common sense, at Oundle School, Northamptonshire. Published articles in Etudes Rabelaisiennes, (a long time ago), and a couple of books - one big 'Oundle's War' (1995) - and one small 'The Scientist in The Cottage' (2013) - a biography of Henry Carter FRS (1813-95). Dabbles, and some people say meddles, in many areas. A passionate gardener, moved to Devon partly to grow ericaceous plants more easily. Other interests include family, cycling, walking, photography, reading, music, studying butterflies, chopping wood, DIY, playing on the scaffold tower, and networking for the Greater Good. Married to Anthea for over 40 years. Three children: Emily, Simeon and Rosanna, three granddaughters and two Bengal cats. Like an increasing number of my friends of my generation, I'm a cancer survivor – I hope!